BEMIDJI, Minn. - The Bemidji State University men’s basketball team had a not-so-comfortable three point lead with 21 seconds to go in regulation Saturday, but Minnesota State University Moorhead guard Charlie Chapman erased the advantage with one shot with eight seconds to go, forcing overtime in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference battle. MSU Moorhead went on to win that OT session 17-10 and ran away from the BSU Gymnasium with an 84-77 victory that created separation in the league standings between the teams.

Both squads entered the game with matching 12-5 NSIC records to sit in a tie for third in the conference standings. The Dragon win handed them sole possession of third and with other happenings around the league this weekend, the Beavers were sent to fifth. The loss is the second of the season in overtime - 103-93 2OT loss at then-No. 21 Augustana College, Jan. 7 - and the third of seven losses in 2011-12 that came at the result of a late shot by the other team - Augie at the end of regulation and two seconds left shot at home versus then-No. 21 St. Cloud State University Jan. 13.

The Beavers (17-7, 12-6 NSIC) put a lot of effort into just getting to overtime in the second half after they found themselves down 43-35 at halftime. BSU had a lead of 6-4 to start the game, but a 15-4 run by the Dragons (17-5, 13-5) gave the road team a 19-10 lead with 14:19 to play in the first half. MSUM had a 13 point advantage at 42-29 with 3:24 remaining in the opening frame, but the Beavers closed the first 20 minutes on a 6-1 run to narrow the gap to eight at the break.

The Dragons shot 70 percent (7-for-10) from 3-point range (Chapman went 3-for-4) and 53.6 percent overall in the first half, while BSU shot a dismal 41.9 percent from the field. Senior forward James Ellisor (Glendale, Ariz.) had a game-high 16 points at the break.

BSU got down 14 at 57-43 with 14:17 left to play in regulation, but started mounting a comeback behind the energy of the season-best crowd of 1,732 and was able to hold the Dragons scoreless for 8:47 of game time. During that time span, the Beavers erased the 14 point deficit with a 14-0 run. Junior Lance Rongstad (G/F, Eleva, Wis.) guided the attack with six points, while Ellisor and junior guard Dermaine Crockrell (Mesa, Ariz.) each pitched in four points.

After MSUM ended its drought with a lay-up, sophomore Zach Noreen (F, Avon, Minn.) knocked down a shot from beyond the arc to give the Beavers their first lead of the game since 10-8, 3:28 into the affair. The bucket handed BSU the 60-59 lead with 4:28 to play. Dragon guard DJ Hamilton responded with a jumper, but Ellisor countered back with a jumper of his own and BSU kept a one point lead.

The advantage went to four at 66-62 with 2:05 remaining when Crockrell elevated and knocked down a shot just inside the 3-point line to get the crowd into a frenzy and force a Dragon timeout. BSU got a stop out of the timeout, but MSUM would be the next to score with 53 ticks left, making the score 66-64. Crockrell attempted a jumper with 30 seconds remaining, but it didn’t fall. Fortunately, Ellisor was the first to the rebound and after nine seconds came off the clock, Rongstad was fouled.

Looking to make the contest a two possession game, Rongstad went to the line and hit his first free throw. The second, though, rattled out and the Dragons came down with the rebound and hustled down court. The ball was eventually swung to Chapman in the corner and the guard knocked down the shot to tie the game 67-67. Despite being hot in the first half, Chapman had missed three straight from beyond the arc before draining the game-tying shot.

Senior Bryce Tesdahl (G, Crosby, Minn.) brought the ball down court and attempted a shot that was blocked. The ball was swatted into the hands of Ellisor and he had a decent look as time expired, but the quick shot fell short and the teams headed to overtime.

After Hamilton hit a jumper on MSUM’s first possession, Noreen gave the Beavers a lead on their time down the court with a 3-pointer. Chapman came down and converted on jumper and then the Dragons got out to a four point lead at 74-70 with 2:03 showing on the overtime session. Two free throws from Crockrell and an up-and-under lay-in from Rongstad tied the game 74-74 with 1:08 left. But a 3-pointer, this time from Andrew VanHavermaet - 3-for-5 from beyond the arc in the game - gave MSUM a lead of 77-74 with 48 seconds remaining.

Rongstad found himself at the line again on the ensuing BSU possession after he was fouled driving to the hoop, getting a shot off the rolled around the back iron of the rim before falling out. He missed the first and hit on the second free throw, but down two with 21 seconds left the Beavers were forced to play the foul game. Hamilton hit on both shots and the deficit was at four. Crockrell cut it in half with a lay-up with 15 seconds to go, but the free throw game would go the way of the Dragons as the Beavers couldn’t find late buckets to put pressure on the road team, en route to the seven point loss.

MSU Moorhead finished the game shooting 30 free throws, making 20 for a 66.7 percentage. BSU was 13-for-20 from the line (65%). Hamilton finished with a game-high 34 points, while Ellisor scored 24 and Crockrell had 20 for Bemidji State. Ellisor added nine rebounds in 42 minutes of play, where he attempted a career-high 22 shots. Crockrell was 7-for-16 (43.4%) from the field and added six rebounds. Noreen was key off the bench with a career-high 15 points and five rebounds in 26 minutes (ties career-high) . He shot 5-for-11 (45.5%) from the field and posted a 50 percent (3-for-6) mark from beyond the arc.

Rongstad finished with 12 points and five rebounds in 40 minutes of play. Tesdahl was in foul trouble early and played in 30 minutes, contributing nine assists. After tying a career-high with 12 assists Friday, Tesdahl added the nine assists against the Dragons to move his season total to 150, ranking him third on BSU’s top season assists chart. He trails his mark from last season (156) for second and James Roberson’s top total of 167, set in the 2003-04 season. He has 124 assists in conference play, just 15 shy of breaking the NSIC record for assists in a season (conference games only), held by former Winona State University guard David Fisher (138, 2009-10).

The regular season road finale is set for Feb. 17-18 at Southwest Minnesota State University and Minnesota State University, Mankato. SMSU is 13-6 in conference play to sit in the fourth spot ahead of BSU. The Beavers defeated the Mustangs 70-56 Jan. 21 at home and defeated MSU for the first time since 1969 with a 75-67 home win Jan. 20.

Bemidji State University, located in Bemidji, Minn., is an NCAA Division II institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).